PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look

Started by johndtuttle, October 03, 2018, 09:02:44 PM

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johndtuttle


Penn SSVI Service Tutorial and First Look

Heya fellas, this new Flagship reel is coming out in a few weeks and PENN sent one along for our perusal. I think we will find every quibble about the old SSV resolved in this stout offering and "IPX5" sealed reel (more on that later) that is leaps and bounds better sealed than anything offered before for the money spent.

In addition to seals in key areas are a top notch machined gear train that has been well proven in the Clash and Slammer III proving that PENN has been listening to us smelly fishos and is committed to offering real value.

Overall, while we may not have returned completely to the days of the "Z" series of over built tanks (with modest drags and wide open to salt) in some ways we are living a Golden Age of spinners with seals and quality gear trains, superb drags and lightweight performance for modest coin.

Meet the Spinfisher VI 4500:









Did I say lightweight? 12.5oz for a reel that will hold over 300 yards of 20# braid and put out 20# of drag. Note that PENN actually rates the reel for a given thickness of braid...we all are familiar with the varying claims and thicknesses of braid out there...if you wonder if your favorite flavor will fit take a look at this thread that has a measurement of the thickness and actual breaking strengths of popular braids:

https://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/topic/663798-line-testing-abs-and-kbs-a-work-in-progress/

Partly how PENN does this is with a modern graphite rotor which also makes the reel easier to spin. The body remains all metal for rigidity under max drag. Line Roller and Rotor:



[url=https://flic.kr/p/26TBg8f]


The line roller is a simple affair as we can expect at this ~$159.95 reel (price on the street may be less). Bearing, bushing and brass roller.



Standard stuff here under the cover:



[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aAjc6A]
1003181449 by johndtuttle, on Flickr


This chart explains "Ingress Protection" better than I ever could and what the manufactured good tests to is established by an independent lab:


ip_rating_chart by johndtuttle, on Flickr



So we can see an IPX5 rating is for protection from "jets of water with limited ingress permitted". What this means is that when you spray down your reels you are not spraying the salt deeper into the reel like any non-sealed spinner or conventional reel. We'll see numerous seals and "hydrophobic polymers" used to seal the reel and keep it free spinning.

Under the spool we see the Spool support assembly that includes the tried and true brass bushing to stabilize the base of the spool with clicker and seals:



[url=https://flic.kr/p/Mon9ih]


Drag Stack:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/MW2KmF]
1003181418 by johndtuttle, on Flickr



Under Spool Assembly:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Mon9jE]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bBH65A]

Rotor:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Mon8Sh]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/KQmQCM]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Mon99E]

Cool Hydrophobic Polymer seal for friction-less sealing of Pinion Assembly. The rotor and the top of the body nest together to create the seal:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/26LdPDW]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/26LdPBb]

Its nests in these grooves under the rotor. Note the corresponding hydrophobic polymer bushing under the rotor:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/26TBgdA]

Sealed on the under side:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Mon949]

Like most PENN spinners you have to remove the Main Shaft to safely remove the Pinion Assembly:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bBH5eh]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aAjcD9]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bBH5Co]
Top of Pinion Assembly:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Mon96U]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/26LdPku]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Mon96U]


A few whacks (protect your hand) into your palm and it drops out:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aAjcv3]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bBH5nU]
1003181434 by johndtuttle, on Flickr

1003181433 by johndtuttle, on Flickr

Nothing fancy-schmancy for the ARB:

P1120668 by johndtuttle, on Flickr

The Body has a familiar and reliable plan:

P1120654 by johndtuttle, on Flickr

P1120664 by johndtuttle, on Flickr

Crosswind Gear:

P1120665 by johndtuttle, on Flickr

It rides on the nylon washer above and this brass bushing:

P1120666 by johndtuttle, on Flickr

Side Plate with Body Seal and note the screws to retain the Bearings:

P1120652 by johndtuttle, on Flickr

Seal of the handle opening:

P1120650 by johndtuttle, on Flickr

The Handle is peened on permanently like the old SSV for low maintenance. Nice to see it was well greased already from the factory:

P1120638 by johndtuttle, on Flickr



Frank

Frank. Retired. Life long fishing and boating fanatic.

Alto Mare

Hello John... always a pleasure seeing you here.
Thanks for making it easy on us to take a look on these new products.

Sal
Forget about all the reasons why something may not work. You only need to find one good reason why it will.

happyhooker


Puddle Jumper

Thanks for the look inside,  8)
Going to be interesting to see how these work out after people start putting some hard use on them..
PJ


handi2

Thank you John.

I've torn down one myself and they look more durable. Time will tell on the exterior finish.
OCD Reel Service & Repair
Gulf Breeze, FL

conchydong



johnachak

Thank you for a great tutorial / review

John

happyhooker

I might have missed it, but what material are the bail arms made out of?

Frank

0119

Quote from: happyhooker on March 13, 2019, 12:39:02 AM
I might have missed it, but what material are the bail arms made out of?

Frank

Graphite.

Gfish

"DUDE!"

JT or anyone else know if you can get rotor flex(just what I call it) by pushing on the rotor arms?
Fishing tackle is an art form and all fish caught on the right tackle are"Gfish"!

Hapster

Good Day, I was doing maintenance on my Penn Spinfisher VI 4500, & removed 4 shims & I'm not sure where to replace them. Two are copper colored & the others chrome. Need your assistance please.

vilters

nice, thanks for posting this. anyone have a link to schematic for this? i'm no spiinning reel guy, and have one that got dunked in nacl h2o needs complete disassembly and {hopefully} reassembly...

JasonGotaProblem

So these have been out a few years. Has anyone developed a strong positive or negative opinion on them after using it for a bit?
Any machine is a smoke machine if you use it wrong enough.